Faculty Articles
Eating behaviors associated with perceptions of stress among school-age children
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing
ISSN
0146-0862
Publication Date
1-1-2005
Abstract
Eating has been theorized to be useful as a coping strategy in response to stressful situations. However, investigation of this behavior in children is limited. The present study is a secondary cross-sectional analysis of longitudinal data that were collected from cohorts of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grader students. Perceived stress was correlated with unhealthy eating behaviors (r = .13, p < .001), as well as with the use of eating as a coping mechanism (r = .24, p < .001). Hispanic children reported using eating as a coping mechanism most frequently, followed by African-American and Caucasian children. School-age children who experience high levels of stress may be at risk for developing unhealthy eating habits in order to cope; continued examination of these relationships is suggested. Future research should focus on the development of interventions to encourage positive coping mechanisms and healthy eating behaviors.
DOI
10.1080/01460860500227580
Volume
28
First Page
175
Last Page
191
NSUWorks Citation
Jenkins, S.,
Rew, L.,
Sternglanz, W. R.
(2005). Eating behaviors associated with perceptions of stress among school-age children. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 28, 175-191.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1192
